caddyowner

When I brought the car home last evening, I noticed that when I close the door hard, the rear of the sunroof and rubber gasket around it moves upward a bit. Sometimes the sunroof and gasket remain a bit raised compared to the rest of the roof. If I close the doors gently or let the power closers do their job, the sunroof doesn't move. When driving, I've also noticed some creaking sounds from around the sunroof.

I know the simple answer is "Don't slam the friggin door and maybe even let the power closers do their thing." But, does your car do this if you close the door firmly? Also, do you have any creaking from around your sunroof?

Lust4Lexus

Mine does a little movement too. I don't think it's a defect, it is simply the air pressure in the car. The car is suddenly pressurized and the sunroof gasket is the weakest joint so it pops up. The creaking can be addressed by a good cleaning of the seal and lubricating.

jayclapp

I think this is abnormal. Most cars have a one way vent to allow the doors to close without excessive internal pressure. I have absolutely never experienced a sunroof problem in my 04 UL. And I have a couple of younger grandkids that do slam the doors occasionally.

Vpanin

Did you drive the car in the rain yet? if you did.........did anything leak inside?

caddyowner

^^
Good suggestion, I have driven in some light rain, but not a lot. (The automatic wipers worked fine.) Rain is predicted for Sunday, so I'll check it out if we get any.

I'd like to make sure it doesn't leak by next week since I'll be dropping the car off at the body shop.

Slvr surfr

iTrader: (1)

It is definately air pressure thats causing the sunroof to move upwards. Being as tho the cabin in these cars are consealed so tightly, there is nowhere for the air inside to go but to the weakiest point which in this case is the roof. I really never experienced this problem but i'll make sure to observe it next time i get in. Nevertheless, simple fix is to do what you said and let the door closers do their job or you could vent the sunroof or window, if applicable, before closing the doors. Just my two cents!

hulla

I noticed this too. Then I tested my other cars (Hondas) and found that they all do it.

jayclapp

My 04 UL doesn't do it.

caddyowner

Around the world this evening, CL spouses are calling out to the garage asking "Honey, why are you opening and closing the door on our car over and over?"

JimsGX

I think its probably normal but...

Your compressing a large volume of air very quickly when you shut the door quickly and it has to go somewhere. Most if not all vehicles have escape vents for the air in the car. That's how the air in the car gets circulated / refreshed while your driving. In the case of the earlier LS's, the air escapes via vents hidden behind both sides of the seat back near the top of the rear seat. From there, it's directed via ducts out the bottom of the rear quarter panels down low under the car to the outside. I assume the LS430 has a similar design. The exit point under the rear quarter panels have rubber flappers covering the vents, so nothing gets up inside the car, just the ability for the air to escape. Similar to a flapper on a dryer vent.

If however these air escape flappers were to become restricted / not opening properly, it could cause some excessive back pressure like your experiencing.

Jim

caddyowner

BTW, DNC sent me a PM to suggest that using 303 on all the rubber seals would help eliminated the creaking. I have it on my shelf, but didn't make the connection. Thanks, buddy.

Only problem, once the seals are all lubed up, I wonder if the sunroof will pop all the way open when the door is slammed or if I sneeze inside?